Emotional Decision

Notts County Football Club are delighted to announce another signing in the boardroom, with the arrival of two more Associate Directors.

Mark and Lina Ablitt have joined Vivien Pavis and Ian Roberts in taking up a formal role at the club with the recently launched Associate Director Package.

The couple, who own London based chartered accountants Sears Morgan, told #themag about their delight. Mark said: “It’s marvellous to be an Associate Director. I’ve been a supporter since 1970, being brought up in Nottingham, moving away, but still coming ever since.

“I’ve come full circle now with the formal role at the club after coming as a young boy in the stands.

“It was a purely emotional decision, not a corporate or financial decision. I came here earlier in the season and talked to Commercial Director Ken Sharp and he asked me if I was keen to make an investment and it was a straightforward decision for me.

“In simple terms I hope it will help the club get out of this league. Any way they use the investment will help. It’s enough for me to say I’ve helped contribute.

“We’ve had a very good start. I think it’s the best team we’ve had over the past 20 years.”

Mark remembers vividly the promotion in the early 80s, as well as the Wembley playoff finals and names them as his most memorable moments supporting the Magpies.

The lifelong fan added: “We are moving in the right direction to go that way again. Anything is possible. I think we need further investment for that to happen and keep thinking big."

As well as a six-figure cash investment into the Club, Associate Directors will also contribute to both the strategic and commercial development of Notts County through their business acumen and contacts.

A bonus or coupon payment system is also linked with Associate Director investment if promotion is achieved over the next five to eight years.

Importantly, all Associate Directorship investments will be used to assist the funding of an expanded youth development scheme, robust scouting program and an advanced player tracking system with state-of the art performance analysis tools in order to develop a leaner, more competitive playing staff for Notts County.